Air or gas compressor



Oct; 14, 1930. 1555 AIR OR GAS- COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A fiomey Oct. 14, 1930.-

R. GIBBS l, 778,357

AIR OR GAS COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A itorncy Patented Oct. 14, 1930 PATENT OFFICE RICHARD GIBBS, OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA AIR OR GAS COMPRESSOR Application filed November 27, 1929. Serial No. 410,049.

This invention relates to a compressor for compressing-air or gas whereby'the air or gas may beplaced in a state capable of being utilizedforany purpose.

5 Theprimary object of this invention is to provide a compressor of the character above "Figure 1 is an end elevation ofa compres- 29 sorembodying the features of this invention, Figure 2 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line33 of Figure 2 and 55 looking in the directionofthearrows,

Figure 4 is a similar view'taken on line of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, v

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of thearrows,

*lVith reference more indetail-to the drawings, it will be seen that the invention comprehends theprovision' of a suitable base 5 from which rise adjacent opposite ends thereof bearingstandards 6 and 7, which standards-attheir upper ends have formed therewithsuitable'bearing structure-s8 and 7' respecti-vely. i

These standards and bearings formed thereon provide a supporting structure in a mannerto be hereinafter more fully set forth for a compressor unit designated generally by the referencecharacter C.

The compressor unit C comprises a cylindrical drum or barrel designated generally by the reference character 9. The barrel 9 comprises complemental' sections of cylindrical construction, each of which sections comprise a rearwall 1'0 and a peripheral wall 11.

The sections of the barrel or drum at their meeting ends are suitably secured together as designated generally at 12. For the sake of convenience, the sections will be designated by the reference characters A and B respectively.

Interiorly. the section A on the inner face of its end wall 10 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed circumferentially spaced impeller vanes 13, which vanes 13 are preferably of the construction shown to advanta e in Figure 4 being relatively wide transverse y and of somewhat arcuate configuration, saidv vanes 13 extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of said end wall to terminate short of the center point of said wall.

The said impeller vanes '13 cooperate to form therebetween fluid passages 13. Arranged within the cylinder or drum 9 is an element designated generally by the reference character F, which element F comprises a tubular body portion centrally located within the cylinder, said tubular body portion 14; being opened at its opposite ends and having said ends arranged within the respective sections of the cylinder.

At its open ends, the tubular body '14 is provided with annular flanges 'l5l5, which flanges have their peripheral edges terminating in spaced relation to the peripheral walls of the respective sections A and B.

Mounted between the flanges Io15 adjacent their outer edges, and arrangedtherebetween in circumferential spaced relation is a plurality of vanes or wings 16, which wings 16 may have their opposite ends welded or otherwise secured to said flanges, and as shown to advantage in Figure 2, these wings 16 extend beyond the adjacent edges of said flanges.

At their outer edges, for substantially half the length thereof said wings '16 may 'be welded to the inner face of the peripheral wall 11 of the section A.

The purpose of these wings 16 will be hereinafter made manifest.

Formed integrally with the end wall of thecylinder section B is a pintle or stub shaft 17, said stub shaft 17 being rotatably supported in the bearing Son the upper end of OF. cw

the standard 6. A shaft 18 has its intermediate portion journaled in the bearing 7 on the standard 7 and at its inner end said shaft 18 is provided with an annular flange 19, which-flange 19 in turn at its peripheral edge is provided with an outstanding peripheral flange 20, the outer face or edge of which flange 20 is positioned against the outer face of the end wall 10 of the cylinder section A,

and bolts or other fastening elements 21 are threaded through said flange and end wall whereby said shaft 18 is secured to said section A with the flange 19 in spaced-relation to said end wall and forming therewith a passage 22. Y Y

Thus it will be seen, through the medium of the shafts-18 and 17 the compressor unit is rotatably mounted.

Theshaft ,17 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 23 and arelatively long air intake tube 24 extends through the bore and hasits inner end extending into the cylindery B for disposition within the tubular body 14 of the element F.

The inner portion of the air intake tube 24: arranged within the tubular body '14 is provided with a plurality of diametrically opposed outlet openings 25. At its outer end, the'shaft 18 is provided witha suitable packing flange structure 26. a The outer end of thetube 24is engaged by a suitableclamp 27 formed on the upper end of a standard 28, which standard 28 at its lower end isbolted or otherwise secured as at '29 to a suitable base or block 30 formed on the base 5. This clamp'member 27 is adapted to retain the air inlet tube 24 against rotation. v a

Interiorly of the cylinder C, and fixedly mounted on the innerend of the air inlet tube 24 is a stationary member comprising an,

elongated tubular body portion 31 telescopioally 'received within the tubular body 14 of element F and arranged concentrically with respeotto the inner end of the tube 24. r

At one end, the tubular body 31 terminates in .a somewhat disk like head 32 arranged between the opposed faces of the end walls 1070f the section B. and the adjacent flange r 15, as shown to advantage in Figure 2.

' The said head 32 is provided with a pluralityof longitudinally curved-radial waterductsl33communicating at their inner ends with the tubular body 31 and at their opposite ends communicating with the interior of the cylinder. 1

At the inner end of the water duct 33 said head 32 is provided with a hub 34 welded or otherwise secured to the air inlet. tube 24. In actual practice, the shaft 18 is connected on its outer end with any suitable driving,

means-designated generally by the reference character 34 whereby rotary motion from any suitable source of power may be imparted to said shaft 18 and then to the cylinder 9.

Said cylinder 9 will contain a certain amount of water or other fluid and air from any suitable source will be inducted through the inlet tube 24 to discharge therefrom through the opening25 into the tubular body 31 to flow therefrom in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

During the rotation of the cylinder the fluid therein will distribute itself around the cylinder evenly due to centrifugal force; Some of thevfluid will pass through the ducts 33 and thence through the tubular body 31,

which tubular body 31 forms a mixing chaming ducts, and from said :ducts 14 will pass' between adjacent impeller wings 16 into the 7 space between the flanges 15515, which space between said wings may be designated the {)Q' separating chamber, and from this separating chamber, it is apparent that air being lighter than the water will separate from'the" water and go into the space between the flanges 1515 which space may be designated an air chamber and is denoted by the-reference character 36..

water now being free of air will pass between the wings 16 and between the peripheral edge will pass therefrom through air ducts 37 into the passages 22, therebeing two of such ducts v '37 extending through diametrically opposed vanes 13 and leading fromasaid air chamber 36 into the said passagej22 as shown to advantage in Figures 2 and 4.,

From the passage 22 air then passes into what may be termed an air collecting cham ber designated generally by the reference character, 38. Thisvcolleoting chamber 38 is formed by an annular member 39 mounted on the shaft 18, which annular member 39 on its inner periphery is provided with anannular groove or channel 40 communicating through the medium of ducts-41 formed in the said shaft 18 with a passageor bore 42 extending longitudinally through said shaft for a short distance, said bore or passage 42 at its open end communicating with the passage 22 as shown to advantage in Figure 2.

Mounted on'the shaft 18 on oppositesides ofthe annular member-29 are suitable gland nuts-43 having threaded engagement at 44 with the said annularmember 29 and'between which annular member 29 said gland nuts are The fluid or water being heavier, centrifugalforce holds the fluid outside, The

interposed in suitable compressed packings This collector structure is non-rotatable on said shaft, and leading downwardly from the collector is a conduit pipe 46, the upper end of bracket 47 projecting laterally from the lower portion of the post 7 and engaging with the conduit 46 as shown to advantage in Figure 2.

. It is to benoted, that the impeller vanes 13 cooperating with the inner wall of the cylinder section Av for-ms an impeller which is of greater diameter than the stationary head 39. so that with the result that the impeller that rotates the mixture of fluid and air be greater than that part of the compressor that stops the rotation is the medium through which is created a pressure on the air or gas.

It will also beappreciated, that with a compressor of this character, should the demand of air lessen vor stop while rotation is continued there will be no very large rise in pres sure of the air because the air will pass over that flange 15 adjacent the head 32 together with the fluid, it being recalled that during the operation of the device the air going into the air chamber 36 leaves the water so free of the air to pass over said flange 15.

However, upon the condition just mentioned and as stated the air and fluid will both pass over the said flange 15. Under these conditions, as the mixture of air and fluid gets to the mixing chamber, there will be no more air taken in as the fluid is already a saturated solution of air and water.

Hence the work of compression is distinctly related to the demand for air and power requirements also are proportional to the de mand for air. p

Should'it be desired'to use the compressor on high pressure, it will be necessary to dissipate some of the heat generated. This dissipation of-the heat can be obtained by ribbing the surface of the working barrelon the outside and thus increase the radiation space.

i It is believed that from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompa-nying drawings a clear understanding of the operation, construction, utility and advantages of a structure of this character will be had by those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a compressor of the class described, a base,bearing brackets rising from saidbase,

a rotatably mounted cylinder, shafts extending from the opposite ends of said cylinder, said shafts having their outer ends journaled in said bearing brackets, radially disposed impeller vanes formed on the inner face of one end wall of said cylinder, said vanes being circumferentially spaced to provide passages therebetween, a tubular element arranged within said cylinder, said tubular element open at its opposite ends, flanges formed on sai tubular element at said ends, impeller wings arranged in circumferentially spaced relation between said flanges at the outer ends of said flanges, said wings at their outer edges being secured to an adjacent portion of the peri iheral wall of said cylinder, said cylinder being adapted to receive fluid, one of said shafts having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough, an air inlet tube arranged in said bore and having one end thereof e:-;- tending into said tubular member, said one end of said tube being provided with a plurality of diametrically opposedoutlet openings, and a fluid within said cylinder during the rotation of said cylinder adapted to intermingle with the air discharged through said outlet opening, the space between said flanges forming an air chamber for receiving the air separated from said fluid during the rotation of said cylinder, said passages and said wings providing unobstructed communication between said tubular member and said air chamber, a compressed air collector, and passages leading. from said air chamber to said collector.

2. In a compressor of the class described, a base, bearing brackets rising from said base, a rotatably mounted cylinder, shafts extending from the opposite ends .of said cylinder, said shafts having their outer ends ournaled in said bearing brackets, radially disposed impeller vanes formed on the inner face of one end wall of said cylinder, said vanes being circumferentially spaced to provide passages therebetween, a tubular element arranged within said cylinder, said tubular element open at its opposite end, flanges formed on said tubular element at said'end, impeller wings arranged in circumferential spaced relation between said flanges at the outer ends of said flanges, said wings at their outer edges being secured to an adjacent portion of the peripheral wall of said cylinder, said cylinder being adapted to 'receive fluid, one of said shafts having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough, an air inlet tube arranged in said core and having one end thereof eX tending into said tubular member, said one end of said tube being provided with a plurality of diametrically opposed outlet openings, and a fluid within said cylinder during the rotation of said cylinder adapted to intermingle with the air discharged through said outlet opening, the space betweensaid flanges formingan air chamber for receiving the air separated from said fluid during the rotation of said cylinder, said passages and said wings 1 ber,'a compressed air collector, and passages leading from said air chamber to said collector, means for retaining said air in said tube against rotation, and a member mounted on said one end of said tube, said member including a headhaving a plurality ofpassages formedtherein communicating with the interior of said cylinder whereby the fluid within said cylinder may be conducted across said air outlet opening during the rotation 01. said cylinder.

3. In a compressor of the character described, afluid retaining cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said cylinder, a mixing chamber arrangedwithin said cylinder concentrically of said cylinder, an air inlet tube extending into said cylinder andterminating within said mixing chamber, means for retaining said tube against rotation, a stationary member mounted on'the inner end of said air inlet tube, said stationary member including a plurality of passages communicating with the interior of said cylinder for conducting the fluid in said cylinder into said mixing chamber, said air inlet tube having a plurality of outlet' openings formed therein to provide communication between sa1d mlet tube and said mixing chamber, means within said cylinder for agitating the mixture -withinsaid cylinder, means for separating the air from said fluid, a collector for receiv- ,ing the air thus separated, and a discharging conduit from said collector.

4. In a compressor of the character described, a fluid retaining cylinder,-means for rotatabl-y supporting said cylinder, a mixing chamberarranged within said cylinder concentrically of said cylinder, an airinlet tube extending into said cylinder and terminating within saidmixing chamber, means for retaining said tube against rotation, a stationary member 'mounted'on the inner end of said I air inlet tube, said stationary member includ-,

ing a plurality of passages communicating wlth the mterior of said cylinder for conduct- .ing the fluid in said cylinder into said mixing chamber said air inlet tube having a plurality of outlet openings formed therein to provide communication between said inlet tube and said mixing chamber, means Within said cylinder for agitating the mixture within said cylinder, means for separating the air from said fluid, a collector for receivin the air thus separated, and a discharging conduit from said collector, said agitating means comprising a plurality of propeller vanes arranged within said cylinder atone end of said mixing chamber. 7

5. In a compressor of the class described, a fluid containing cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder, a tubular member open at its opposite end and arranged within said cylinder concentrically of said cylinder, a plurality of circumferentially spaced impellet vanes extending. inwardly from the peripheral wall of said cylinder at one end of said tubular member, aplurality of circumferentially'spaced wings carried by said tubular member, said wings having their outer edges secured to the peripheral wall of said cylinder whereby "said tubular member is anchored withinsaid cylinder for rotation therewith, saidtubular member at its oppo-' site end provided with outstanding flanges, said wings having their inner'edge portions arranged-between the outer edges of said flanges in spaced relation to said tubes, an air inlet tube extending into said cylinder and terminating within "said tubular member, means for retaining said air inlet tubein a stationary position, and passages in said cylinder' for conveying fluid in said cylinder across the opening formed in the inner end of said air inlet tube, an air collector arranged exteriorly of said cylinder, and an air conduit leading to said air collector.

6. In a compressor of the class described,

a rotatable fluid containing cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said cylinder, a non rotatable air inlet tube extending into said cylinder, a tubular member arranged concentrically onsaid air mlet tubewithin said cyl inder, said tubular member at one end terminating 1n an enlarged head, radlal passages said vanes forming passages from one end of said tubular member to the passages formed in saidhead, an air collecting chamber formed in said cylinder for receiving the air separated from said fluid by centrifugal force, and an outlet for the air in said airchamber leading from said air chamberfto the exterior of'said cylinder.

7. In a compressorof the class described,

a rotatable fluid containing'cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said cylinder, a non rotatable air inlet tube extending into said cylinder, a tubular member arranged concentrically on said air inlet tube within said cylinder, said tubular member at one end terminating inan enlarged head, radial passages in said head communicating with the interior ot said tubular member whereby fluidwithin said cylinder may be conducted through said tubular member during the rotation of said cylinder, whereby said fluid is mixed with the air discharged from the inlet tube, impeller vanes arranged within said cylinder at that end of the tubular member remote from said head, circumferentially spaced inwardly extending wings mounted on the peripheral wall of said cylinder, said Wings disposed at right angles to said vanes, said wings and said vanes forming passages from one end of said tubular member to the passages formed in said head, an air collecting chamber formed in said cylinder for receiving the air separated from said fluid by centrifugal force, an outlet for the air in said air chamber leading from said gas chamber to the exterior of said cylinder, a compressed air collector exteriorly of said cylinder at one end of said cylinder, and said air outlet leading to said collector.

8. In a compressor of the class described, arotatable fluid containing cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said cylinder, a nonrotatable air inlet tube extending into said cylinder, a tubular member arranged concentrically on said air inlet tube within said cylinder, said tubular member at one end terminating in an enlarged head, radial passages in said head communicating with the interior of said tubular member whereby fluid within said cylinder may be conducted throughsaid tubular member during the rotation of said cylinder, whereby said fluid is mixed with the air discharged from the inlet tube, impeller vanes arranged within said cylinder at that end of the tubular member remote from said head, circumferentially spaced inwardly extending wings mounted on the peripheral Wall of said cylinder, said wings disposed at right angles to said vanes, said wings and said vanes forming passages from one end of said tubular member to the passages formed in said head, an air collecting chamber formed in said cylinder for receiving the air separated from said fluid by centrifugal force, an outlet for the air in said air chamber leading from said gas chamber to the exterior of said cylinder, a compressed air collector exteriorly of said cylinder at one end of said cylinder, and said air outlet leading to said collector, said collector being non-rotatable.

9. In an air compressor, a rotatable container, means for supporting the same,'said container adapted to contain fluid, an axial chamber in the container, relatively short. radial fluid passages communicating at one end with said mixing chamber, and at their opposite ends with the interior of said container whereby the fluid in the container during rotation of the same is conducted to the mixing chamber, means for forcing air into said mixing chamber, radial passages at the other end of said mixing chamber through which the air and fluid from the mixing chamber is conducted toward the peripheral wall of said container, said last mentioned passages being relatively longer than the first referred to passages, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending wings extending inwardly from the peripheral wall of the container and forming therebetween passages communicating the first and second mentioned series of passages, a member carried by said container for rotation therewith, said member having an air passage therein, a passage leading from the container to said member for conducting the compressed air from the container to said member, and a second member concentrically arranged about said first mentioned member, said second member being non-rotatable and communicating With the passage in said first mentioned member, and a conduit leading from said second mentioned member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RICHARD GIBBS. 

